Island Man

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Posts by Island Man

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  17

  Can you get disfellowship for kissing a person of the same sex?

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i found this on exjwreddit.

  a pimo elder is in the middle of an event where a former co allegedly kissed a brother from another hall.. the co denied it so the other elders are frustrated because they can't have a judicial meeting.

  if true, can he be disfellowshipped?

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  Island Man

  It wouldn't qualify as porneia. But it would probably be regarded as sexual uncleanness due to the homosexual inclinations underpinning the action.

  To JWs it's not the same as an unmarried man and unmarried woman kissing. That can be regarded as somewhat legitimate if the man and woman are courting (even if it could often be seen as skirting the line of what they would consider as recommended behavior, depending on the nature of the kiss and the setting in which it was done).

  But a homosexual kiss is never under any circumstances legitimate or excusable as it involves acting on sinful and unnatural desires, according to their teachings. Depending on the setting in which it was done, the elders might make a case for brazen conduct and DF you on that ground.
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  12

  Gog of Magog

  by Truth and Justice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  can someone explain or produce any information about what the new views are about the subject of gog of magog.

  apparently, it has caused a stir and i like to know a little bit about it.

  especially, when i had a brother who hasn’t talked to me in quite a while, starts talking about gog.

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  Island Man

  Jeffro is right about Gog and Magog in Revelation.

  The book of Revelation does a lot of borrowing of wording and concepts from the OT and uses them as symbols and analogies.

  The Gog and Magog used in Revelation is just an analogical comparison of the post-apocalyptic rebels to the Gog mentioned in Ezekiel. It's the same way Revelation uses Babylon the Great, which I'm now convinced is actually a reference to 1st century Jerusalem under the control of the anti-Christian Jewish religious hierarchy.

  The fall and destruction of Babylon the Great mentioned in Revelation is actually recounting the fall and destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans from 66 to 70 CE. "Get out of her my people" is actually a reference to Jesus' warning to his followers that they should leave the city when they see it surrounded by encamped armies.

  It's all worded as a prophecy to fool the reader into thinking that the book is older and that it correctly predicted the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome. This tactic was used to give the book credibility with readers. The same is true of 666 which is actually a gematria reference to Emperor Nero.
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  35

  The Watchtower—Study Edition | February 2022 Trust in Jehovah ...We really meant ''the Governing Body''

  by RULES & REGULATIONS in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the watchtower—study edition | february 2022. study article 6. do you trust in jehovah’s way of doing things?.

  15 as the end of this system of things draws near, we need to trust in jehovah’s way of doing things as never before.

  during the great tribulation, we may receive instructions that seem strange, impractical, or illogical.

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  Island Man

  I already have an idea for a PIMO comment:

  We have recently seen the brothers on video from the website saying that things that are obvious aren't seen by them until it's Jehovah's time for them to see it. And we've had an article in the past where the brothers humbly acknowledged that they're neither inspired nor infallible. And we know the many teachings that we have had to clarify. Plus we have the Bible warning against putting our trust in men.

  In view of all of this it can seem quite reasonable and rational to not put full trust in what the brothers at the helm of the organization are saying. It can seem reasonable and ration to think: well how do we know that this particular advice is really coming from Jehovah and not just from the imperfect brothers who can and have made mistakes in doctrine and direction?

  But this is helping us to see that we should not entertain this kind of rational thinking but should just trust what the brothers say.
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  17

  Prayer for every day

  by May1981 in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  i pray for every person in the world.

  you can also join my prayer.

  and may the creator hear our prayers.

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  Island Man

  Studies have been done on the effectiveness of prayer on sick patients. The conclusion: It makes no difference - except for when the patients know they're being prayed for - then they fare a little worse!

  Wake up to reality. Abandon ancient superstitiality. Make-believe and imaginary friends are for children. Just because an idea feels good or is comforting, doesn't make it true. Reality doesn't owe you justice, comfort or hope.

  Don't be like those criticized in the Bible at 2 Timothy 4:4. Isn't it ironic that Bible text says what it says when what it says actually applies to all who hold to irrationally religious beliefs because they find them pleasing to the ear and comforting?

  God can't cure amputees for the same reason he couldn't defeat armies with iron chariots: he resides solely in the minds of men.
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  24

  “The Right to Shun: Ghent’s Misguided Jehovah’s Witness Decision“ Matthew P. Cavedon

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://canopyforum.org/2021/04/19/the-right-to-shun-ghents-misguided-jehovahs-witness-decision/.

  in march, the criminal court of ghent, belgium fined the congregation of jehovah’s witnesses (jw) for “inciting discrimination and hatred or violence against former members.” the case centered on the jw practice of “disfellowshipping.” while the court’s sensitivity to the individual impact of shunning is laudable, its decision regrettably assaults the freedoms of religion and association.. first, some background on jw beliefs and disfellowshipping.

  jw was founded in the united states over a century ago and is headquartered in new york state.

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  Island Man

  Simon: Think it through, how would it work?

  Simple. Make it illegal for any organization to incite - and especially coerce - its members to shun former members. If members of such an organization are punished or in any way treated differently or negatively by the organization, for failing to shun former members, then those responsible are subject to prosecution.

  Individuals still have the freedom to shun if they want. But they can't be instructed to do so by the org and they can't be punished by the org if they don't.
  
  
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  24

  “The Right to Shun: Ghent’s Misguided Jehovah’s Witness Decision“ Matthew P. Cavedon

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://canopyforum.org/2021/04/19/the-right-to-shun-ghents-misguided-jehovahs-witness-decision/.

  in march, the criminal court of ghent, belgium fined the congregation of jehovah’s witnesses (jw) for “inciting discrimination and hatred or violence against former members.” the case centered on the jw practice of “disfellowshipping.” while the court’s sensitivity to the individual impact of shunning is laudable, its decision regrettably assaults the freedoms of religion and association.. first, some background on jw beliefs and disfellowshipping.

  jw was founded in the united states over a century ago and is headquartered in new york state.

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  Island Man

  Simon: Everyone has the right to shun whoever they want.

  The operative word here is want. How many JWs are shunning their relatives because they truly want to and not because they feel pressured and coerced to? You seem to be oblivious to the difference between an individual choosing of his own free will to shun someone they view as toxic; and an organization mandating and stirring up its members to shun others with the threat of consequences if they fail to comply. Everyone is free to have sex with anyone of legal age that they wish to. So would it be ok for an organization to mandate its members to make sexual advances to a certain segment of society, with the threat of consequences if the members don't comply? Surely you see the difference between an individual's free choice and them being coerced by an authority into taking an unpleasant action they likely would not do on their own?
  
  
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  40

  Everyone Around Trump Is Getting The Virus Including Joint Chief if Staff ...what’s going on???

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is this just a coincidence?

  is trump a “super spreader”?

  is this a republican payback?

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  Island Man

  Yeah is so strange isn't it? As soon as the electioneering starts to heat up and Trump and his anti-mask-wearing Republican cohorts start meeting in large groups disregarding COVID safety protocols, all of a sudden lots of them start getting infected. What's going on?!
  

  How have so many people in America gotten so stupid so very quickly? America has become an idiocracy and a laughing stock.
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  7

  Annual Meeting?

  by pauluk in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the watchtower annual meeting is traditionally held the 1st saturday in october which is today, usually there are topics and speculations leading up to this but i've not seen anything on here or reddit this year.

  has it been cancelled this year, anyone know?

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  Island Man

  Haven't heard anything either. Most likely it would be done virtually. Probably will be streamed to select VIP JWs and snippets later uploaded to JWorg.
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  41

  Is There a Higher Conscious

  by LetTheTruthBeKnown in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  most of the individuals here from what i have read have gravitated to believing in evolution for various reasons and no longer have a belief in a creator.. the questions begs though, is there a higher conscious in the universe than mankind's.

  i am sure everyone agrees that animals are conscious, but to what extent can they reason?.

  here is the link to dr. rupert sheldrake's - is the sun conscious.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfhsobpja8a.

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  Island Man

  Given how vast and old our universe is - and who knows, there could even be a multiverse - I think it's possible that there is other intelligent life out there that experience a greater degree of consciousness than we do.

  But I think that's a relatively rational hypothesis to hold given the fact that we know the universe can give rise to conscious intelligent life as exemplified by our own existence.

  On the other hand if you're suggesting some supernatural intelligent being - and especially as an explanation for the birth of the universe - something for which we have no known verifiable examples and for which we have no credible evidence but just ancient stories written by ancient cultures that were mired in superstition and ignorance, then no.

  Positing an all-powerful, all-wise, ambiternal, complex, personal being as an explanation for the existence of the universe and life, is like borrowing one million dollars to pay off a one hundred dollar debt.
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  114

  Riots one reason to own an AR15 and several 30 round or 100 round mags.

  by phoenixrising in

  1. social
  2. current

  i hear this from the leftist idiots all the time.

  if someone breaks into your home 6 bullets are enough.

  well if its a one of i would argue that i still my need more round for even just one person.

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  Island Man

  "thank god i dont live in america."

  You can say that again!